Four men have died and hundreds of residents have been left homeless after a fire swept through the EP Malan informal settlement in Pomona, outside Kempton Park, in the early hours of today.

The men died in separate shacks as the fire tore through the settlement, while residents battled to salvage what they could from their burning homes.

According to DEMS spokesperson William Ntladi, firefighters from the Farrarmere Fire Station received the emergency call at around 01:45 and swiftly responded to the scene.

Upon arrival, firefighters conducted a risk assessment and called in additional resources due to the number of shacks affected and the risk posed to surrounding structures.

The fire has since been contained, although firefighting operations remain underway.

Search, rescue and recovery operations are also continuing. So far, four charred bodies have been discovered.

Ntladi confirmed that no residents had been hospitalised for injuries or smoke inhalation.

Firefighters are working alongside law enforcement agencies and paramedics to manage the incident.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.